If you change the default runlevel from 5 to 3 in /etc/inittab, then it displays all boot up messages in text mode.
Taking "rhgb" off of the end of your kernel line in menu.lst probably disables that, too. I have my own compiled kernel and didn't add that and I don't have that graphical boot any more.
It's pretty neat, but I like the old fashion boot view better, too.
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